Tamron SP 180mm f/2.5 LD IF Reviews

This is one of Tamron's 35th Anniversary Series lenses and was produced in limited numbers, just 3,000 being manufactured. It is the ideal portrait lens which many professional photographers have criticized for being too sharp! You should always use the accessory lens hood for maximum contrast since the front elements are barely recessed. Nevertheless, lens flare is well controlled within this optical design. This lens also uses internal focusing. The SP 180 uses two LD elements in the front focus group for near perfect apochromatic performance, and that Tamron uses their unique "spherical aberration compensator group" which maintains sharpness even at closer focus distances. The SP 180 remains razor sharp throughout its focus range. Optimal aperture is F/8 although any aperture from F/4 to F/22 is sharp to razor sharp with high to very high contrast.

Note that photodo's MTF test of their lens example are not as good as tests performed by various camera magazines. Thus the lens which photodo tested either was a lemon (unlikely) or may have had some optical decentering due to rough handling or other problems. Overall MTF test results should have about a 3.9 or 4.0 to match the test results from other sources.

Very good lens,excellent color and bokeh. Good performance after F/5.6.